The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Monday assumed control of five new cases of alleged malpractices in the NEET-UG medical entrance exam, previously investigated by police in Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Bihar. This development comes as the opposition intensifies its efforts to challenge the government in Parliament regarding the paper leak controversy.
The Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) of Maharashtra has arrested a Zilla Parishad school headmaster from Latur and detained a teacher, revealing a racket allegedly aiding NEET students in exchange for money.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to consider abolishing NEET, introduced in 2013, and revert to state-conducted exams in light of the paper leak scandal.
Several opposition MPs demanded answers from the government in Parliament, citing the hardship caused to lakhs of students. As Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan took his oath, opposition members protested, shouting “NEET, NEET”.
Following these protests and ongoing litigation, the Centre removed National Testing Agency (NTA) Director General Subodh Singh and handed over the probe into NEET-UG irregularities to the CBI, which is now investigating six cases.
Pradeep Singh Kharola took additional charge of the NTA on Monday and met with officials to discuss the agency’s operations.
A seven-member panel, headed by former ISRO chief K Radhakrishnan, was established by the Education Ministry to review the NTA’s functioning and recommend exam reforms. The panel met on Monday to evaluate current processes and the statistics of exams conducted by the NTA.
Dharmendra Pradhan stated that these measures are part of a broader strategy to enhance the efficiency of the examination process, eliminate malpractices, strengthen data security, and reform the NTA.
Additionally, the Centre has published rules under the newly notified anti-paper leak law, mandating the National Recruitment Agency (NRA) to develop norms, standards, and guidelines for computer-based tests.
The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Rules, 2024, outline provisions for engaging other government agencies, preparing examination norms, and reporting incidents of unfair means.
CBI officials reported re-registering cases from Gujarat, Bihar, and three from Rajasthan. A case from Maharashtra’s Latur is also likely to be taken up. Except for the Bihar case, the other instances involve isolated incidents of impersonation and cheating by local officials, invigilators, and candidates.
In Bihar, the Economic Offences Unit arrested five more individuals, bringing the total number of arrests to 18. In Maharashtra, police arrested Jalil Khan Umar Khan Pathan, a headmaster, and detained Sanjay Jadhav, a teacher, both of whom also run a private coaching centre.
The Centre faces criticism over alleged irregularities in NEET-UG and UGC-NET exams. TMC chief Mamata Banerjee, in a letter to the PM, called for the NEET exam to be abolished, urging a return to state-conducted exams to restore student confidence.
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Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Anil Desai argued that the NEET-UG issue extends beyond arresting a few individuals, suggesting a broader network’s involvement. Similarly, RJD MP Manoj Jha claimed links between those named in the leaks and leaders of JD(U) and BJP.
The Bihar Police investigation revealed a leak in the medical entrance exam question paper, and UGC-NET was cancelled following concerns about the exam’s integrity. Both are now under CBI investigation. In response, the government also cancelled NEET-PG and CSIR-UGC NET exams amid the controversy.
Meanwhile, the Congress-affiliated National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) held a protest at Jantar Mantar. Police detained over two dozen students, including NSUI members, ahead of their planned march to Parliament.
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